Missing Lebanon TN police officer found dead in off-duty accident
Lebanon TN March 2 2018Â The body of a Lebanon police officer was found dead Thursday after his truck was located in a creek in DeKalb County, according to the city’s mayor.
Joe Bowen, 28, was identified as the man found dead following his shift with the Lebanon Police Department, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Bowen lived in DeKalb County, Lebanon Mayor Bernie Ash said.
Bowen’s shift ended sometime around 6 a.m., according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol which was asked to conduct an aerial search near Alexandria for the missing officer, THP spokesman Jimmy Neal said.
The vehicle was found prior to Bowen’s body being located, Neal said.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is continuing to work the crash. The highway patrol will work with the medical examiner to determine a cause of death, which may not be immediate according to THP Lt. Bill Miller.
“The Lebanon Police Department is asking for prayers as we mourn the loss of one of our officers,” was a post on the department’s Facebook page. “Veteran Officer Joe Bowen was recovered from the Smith Fork Creek, after his vehicle ran off the roadway earlier today. The investigation is pending. Officer Bowen leaves behind a wife, 2 children, and a family that loved him, both by blood and in blue.”
